Fixtures Confirmed For Heineken Cup Pool Stages
Leinster will launch the defence of their Heineken Cup crown with an away trip to Montpellier on Saturday, November 12. The tournament organisers ERC have announced the fixtures for the opening rounds of next season’s competition.
Heineken Cup newcomers Montpellier have scheduled the opening match for Stade de la Mosson, the 32,900-capacity home of League 1 football club Montpellier HSC.
Leinster will also play a fourth tournament match at the Aviva Stadium when they meet Bath in round 4 on Saturday, December 17.
The defending champions have won all three previous games staged at the home of Irish rugby, beating Clermont Auvergne in a pool match and Leicester Tigers and Toulouse in the knockout stages last season.
English champions Saracens will take their round 3 clash with the Ospreys on Saturday, December 10 to London’s Wembley Stadium.
Connacht, who join Montpellier in making their Heineken Cup debut this coming season, will meet Amlin Challenge Cup holders Harlequins in Pool 6 on Friday, November 11 – the opening night of the 17th season of elite European tournament action.
Eric Elwood’s men will also welcome four-time Heineken Cup champions Toulouse to the Sportsground in round 2 on Saturday, November 19.
Harlequins face a tough away trip in round 4 when they take on Toulouse at Le Stadium on Sunday, December 18.
Northampton Saints, the 2011 finalists, will also be on the road in round 1 as they travel to Thomond Park to meet the 2006 and 2008 Heineken Cup winners Munster in Pool 1.
Ulster’s opening match in Pool 4 is a mouth-watering encounter with Clermont Auvergne at Ravenhill. Brian McLaughlin’s charges will have back-to-back clashes with familiar opponents Aironi Rugby before Christmas.
2011/12 HEINEKEN CUP:
POOLS –
POOL 1: MUNSTER, Northampton Saints, Scarlets, Castres Olympique
POOL 2: Cardiff Blues, London Irish, Edinburgh, Racing Metro 92
POOL 3: LEINSTER, Bath, Glasgow Warriors, Montpellier
POOL 4: Leicester Tigers, Clermont Auvergne, ULSTER, Aironi Rugby
POOL 5: Biarritz Olympique, Ospreys, Saracens, Benetton Treviso
POOL 6: Toulouse, Harlequins, Gloucester, CONNACHT
FIXTURES –
(All kick-offs are local time with host broadcaster where relevant)
ROUND 1
Friday, November 11
Pool 2 – Racing Metro 92 v Cardiff Blues, 9pm; Canal+
Pool 6 – Harlequins v Connacht, 8pm; Sky Sports
Saturday, November 12
Pool 1 – Scarlets v Castres Olympique, 3pm
Pool 1 – Munster v Northampton Saints, 6pm; Sky Sports
Pool 2 – London Irish v Edinburgh, 1.30pm; Sky Sports
Pool 3 – Montpellier v Leinster, Stade de la Mosson, 2.30pm; Canal+
Pool 4 – Aironi Rugby v Leicester Tigers, 2.30pm; Sky Italia
Pool 4 – Ulster v Clermont Auvergne, 3.40pm; Sky Sports
Pool 5 – Ospreys v Biarritz Olympique, 3.40pm; S4C
Sunday, November 13
Pool 3 – Glasgow Warriors v Bath, 12.45pm; Sky Sports
Pool 5 – Saracens v Benetton Treviso, 3pm
Pool 6 – Toulouse v Gloucester, 4pm; FR2
ROUND 2
Friday, November 18
Pool 1 – Northampton Saints v Scarlets, 8pm; Sky Sports
Pool 2 – Cardiff Blues v London Irish, 8pm; S4C
Pool 2 – Edinburgh v Racing Metro 92, 8pm
Pool 4 – Clermont Auvergne v Aironi Rugby, 9pm; Canal+
Saturday, November 19
Pool 1 – Castres Olympique v Munster, 4.40pm; FR2
Pool 4 – Leicester Tigers v Ulster, 6pm; Sky Sports
Pool 5 – Biarritz Olympique v Saracens, 2.30pm; Canal+
Pool 5 – Benetton Treviso v Ospreys, 2.30pm; Sky Italia
Pool 6 – Gloucester v Harlequins, 3.40pm; Sky Sports
Pool 6 – Connacht v Toulouse, 6pm; Sky Sports
Sunday, November 20
Pool 3 – Leinster v Glasgow Warriors, 12.45pm; Sky Sports
Pool 3 – Bath v Montpellier, 3pm; Sky Sports
ROUND 3
Friday, December 9
Pool 2 – Cardiff Blues v Edinburgh, 8pm; S4C
Pool 4 – Ulster v Aironi Rugby, 7.30pm
Pool 6 – Harlequins v Toulouse, 8pm; Sky Sports
Saturday, December 10
Pool 1 – Scarlets v Munster, 3.40pm; Sky Sports
Pool 1 – Castres Olympique v Northampton Saints, 2.30pm; Canal+
Pool 2 – Racing Metro 92 v London Irish, 4.40pm; FR2
Pool 5 – Benetton Treviso v Biarritz Olympique, 2.30pm; Sky Italia
Pool 5 – Saracens v Ospreys, Wembley Stadium, 6pm; Sky Sports
Pool 6 – Connacht v Gloucester, 1.30pm; Sky Sports
Sunday, December 11
Pool 3 – Glasgow Warriors v Montpellier, 12.45pm; Sky Sports
Pool 3 – Bath v Leinster, 12.45pm; Sky Sports
Pool 4 – Clermont Auvergne v Leicester Tigers, 4pm; FR2
ROUND 4
Friday, December 16
Pool 2 – Edinburgh v Cardiff Blues, 8pm; S4C
Pool 5 – Ospreys v Saracens, 8pm; Sky Sports
Pool 5 – Biarritz Olympique v Benetton Treviso, 9pm; Canal+
Saturday, December 17
Pool 2 – London Irish v Racing Metro 92, 3pm
Pool 3 – Montpellier v Glasgow Warriors, 4.40pm; FR2
Pool 3 – Leinster v Bath, Aviva Stadium, 6pm; Sky Sports
Pool 4 – Leicester Tigers v Clermont Auvergne, 1.30pm; Sky Sports
Pool 4 – Aironi Rugby v Ulster, 2.30pm; Sky Italia
Pool 6 – Gloucester v Connacht, 3.40pm; Sky Sports
Sunday, December 18
Pool 1 – Munster v Scarlets, 12.45pm; Sky Sports
Pool 1 – Northampton Saints v Castres Olympique, 3pm; Sky Sports
Pool 6 – Toulouse v Harlequins, Le Stadium, 4pm; FR2
ROUND 5
January 13/14/15
Pool 1 – Munster v Castres Olympique
Pool 1 – Scarlets v Northampton Saints
Pool 2 – London Irish v Cardiff Blues
Pool 2 – Racing Metro 92 v Edinburgh
Pool 3 – Montpellier v Bath
Pool 3 – Glasgow Warriors v Leinster
Pool 4 – Aironi Rugby v Clermont Auvergne
Pool 4 – Ulster v Leicester Tigers
Pool 5 – Ospreys v Benetton Treviso
Pool 5 – Saracens v Biarritz Olympique
Pool 6 – Toulouse v Connacht
Pool 6 – Harlequins v Gloucester
ROUND 6
January 20/21/22
Pool 1 – Castres Olympique v Scarlets
Pool 1 – Northampton Saints v Munster
Pool 2 – Cardiff Blues v Racing Metro 92
Pool 2 – Edinburgh v London Irish
Pool 3 – Bath v Glasgow Warriors
Pool 3 – Leinster v Montpellier
Pool 4 – Clermont Auvergne v Ulster
Pool 4 – Leicester Tigers v Aironi Rugby
Pool 5 – Benetton Treviso v Saracens
Pool 5 – Biarritz Olympique v Ospreys
Pool 6 – Connacht v Harlequins
Pool 6 – Gloucester v Toulouse
QUARTER-FINALS – April 6/7/8
SEMI-FINALS – April 27/28/29
FINAL – May 19/20, Twickenham